Hilton Foundation invests $2 million in Ventura County nonprofits

CARLOS CHAVEZ/Special to the Star
The Ventura County Community Foundation houses more than 10 nonprofits in the Camarillo center, including the community foundation, United Way of Ventura and Interface Children and Family Services.

Ventura County Star

A $2 million investment in the Ventura County Community Foundation will help it pay off its Camarillo center and indirectly benefit county nonprofits.

The foundation announced the funding from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation this month. The community foundation has a 53,500-square-foot center that houses 15 charities at below-market rent and provides free meeting space to organizations.

“We are enormously grateful for the Hilton Foundation’s partnership in this project,” said Hugh Ralston, president and CEO of the community foundation. “The subsidized, below-market rent provided to all tenants results in savings that go into their work to improve our communities.”

The $2 million will also get the community foundation closer to its capital campaign goal of $10 million, Ralston said. He said that with the Hilton funds and a $3.4 million investment by the community foundation itself, the organization has “made a tremendous start in covering the costs for this project, along with the contributions of lead donors already made.”

There are 15 tenants in the building, which has a suite where startups receive further discounts on rent.

The center also hosts training for nonprofits, Ralston said. It offered workshops and classes for 850 nonprofits last year.

The United Way of Ventura County, which moved into the center in 2012, was its first tenant.

“The center was a unique opportunity to bring an important segment of the county’s social service sector under one roof,” said David M. Smith, United Way president and CEO.

Smith said United Way’s presence at the center has helped his nonprofit build relationships and strengthen its ties with the community foundation.

The discounted rent has helped tenants save significantly, he said. With free access to the nonprofit center’s two conference rooms, organizations save even more, Smith said.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County, which moved into the building in October, houses 11 staff members there, CEO Lynne West said.

“We are able to collaborate in person with other nonprofits, share wisdom, ideas and materials, and we are saving almost $12,000 a year with the move,” West said. “It also gives us a greater capacity for volunteer training and outreach events.”

Steven M. Hilton, president and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, said he was pleased to support the community foundation.

“Under the Ventura County Community Foundation’s guidance, hundreds of nonprofits stand to benefit from the center’s programs,” Hilton said.